Pope Leo begins 12-day South American tour

Pope Leo departed from Rome on Friday for an ambitious 12-day apostolic journey across South America, marking his return to a region where he spent decades as a missionary. The 71-year-old pontiff, who recently underwent lung cancer surgery, arrived in Montevideo, Uruguay, where he was greeted by President Yamandu Orsi. Despite his recent health procedure, the Vatican maintains that the pope has fully recovered and will proceed with the demanding schedule without special precautions.

Throughout the tour, which concludes on November 17, Leo will travel approximately 31,000 kilometers (19,300 miles) across 10 cities in Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. The itinerary includes 36 speeches and various events intended to address regional instability while promoting faith and charity. As the first US-born pope, Leo expressed a deep personal connection to the region, having previously lived in Peru and obtained citizenship there. He stated to reporters aboard his flight that he felt in good shape and never intended to cancel the visit, which is expected to draw crowds numbering in the millions.